E. coli warning
Public Health England have issued a warning that NHS patients have been infected with E. Coli. You can read the full article from The Telegraph.
Scientists have warned that deadly bacteria, such as E. Coli and Salmonella have mutated to be resilient to our last line of antibiotics. It has also been discovered that E. Coli and Salmonella are already circulating in Britain.
Public Health England have discovered at least two NHS patients have been infected with resistant E. Coli and others with Salmonella, which can’t be treated with antibiotics. But fortunately, in those cases, the infection was killed with use of other antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance
Health experts have been concerned for years that antibiotic resistance could send medicine back to the dark ages – where even small infections of cuts could prove lethal.
The strains carry a gene called MCR-1 which can be easily copied and transferred between bacteria, meaning the resistance could be easily passed on.
Only last month, mutated forms of E. Coli were found in 1322 hospitalised patients in China, it’s thought to have spread to Laos and Malaysia. Experts then warned that global travel and food imports could allow it to travel to Britain.
Colistin is frequently used for mass medication of intensively farmed pigs and poultry, and scientists believe that the resistance gene has spread from farm animals to humans because the antibiotic is used much more widely in veterinary medicine than it is in human medicine. Now campaigners are calling for a ban of colistin in animals.
What are your thoughts?
Do you have concerns about the recent discovery of antibiotic resistant bacteria in our hospitals? Have you seen patients in your own work place, with resistant bacteria infections? You can send us your thoughts by tweeting us @TelecareChoice.
